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Emergency Management

Volunteering can provide crucial support to people in the community who are impacted by an emergency.

Volunteering WA is a member of the State Welfare Emergency Committee and Community Engagement subcommittee of Western Australia’s peak emergency management body, State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC).

COVID-19 Emergency Volunteering

In March 2020, Volunteering WA launched a new website calling on people to lend a hand and register their details to become an emergency volunteer and assist those affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Volunteers were asked to help with a number of tasks including but not limited to:

  • Telephone welfare checks for people who are at risk of social isolation
  • Urgent household maintenance
  • Grocery deliveries to alleviate reduced deliveries from supermarkets
  • Pick-up and drop-off of medications from pharmacies
  • Essential transportation (doctor’s appointments)

Since the inception of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Volunteering website we have seen over 3,400 volunteers sign up to assist their fellow Western Australians.

Volunteering WA has matched volunteers with many organisations and Local Government Authorities from all over Western Australia in delivering essential services through special taskforces to assist with the pandemic. Positions included:

  • Delivery drivers for a community-based organisation that assists disadvantaged people in the southern suburbs.
  • A relief services agency who needed volunteers to help sort and pack food.
  • A community support centre who needed drivers to deliver dinners to those in Fremantle.
  • Library volunteers for a non-profit association that promotes the importance and the value of play through their libraries located all over the State.
  • A legal service provider who required a volunteer with legal knowledge.

The Emergency Volunteering website will be used for future emergencies in Western Australia, allowing volunteers to assist in times when the community needs them.

“Thank you so much for all your help and promoting our driver positions.” Bron Elliott – Volunteer Coordinator at Assisting Your Life to Achieve

 

“I have spoken to a couple of toy libraries who are really grateful for the volunteers who have come through your COVID response campaign.” Louise Bell – WA Development Officer, Toy Libraries Australia

 

“I did find volunteer work through your COVID-19 Emergency Support Volunteering website, as a casual helper at an emergency Foodbank… I have really enjoyed this volunteer opportunity and am grateful to your organisation for making it possible.” – Helen Coleman